Page 45 of Pregnant By the Russian Pakhan

Mikhail, however, didn’t forget. He flapped a hand at Sarah. “You should get her ready for a dinner party tomorrow night. Black tie affair. So, go get things in order.”

Sarah frowned. “Everything I would need to get her ready is right here in her room. I’ll set them out.”

“Sarah, give us a few minutes before Mikhail forgets how to be a gentleman,” Mira laughed, noting his exasperation.

“I brought you a new dress, courtesy of Madame Pruitt,” he told Mira as soon as the door shut behind Sarah. “She’s been beside herself with joy at the news of your impending childbirth.”

Mira ducked her head with a happy grin as she immediately rushed to the box he had deposited onto her bed.

She unwrapped the box with the delight of a little girl, and when she pulled out an absolutely breathtaking black gown with diamond studs scattered all over the bodice, her lips rounded in a soft oh of appreciation. She had enough of her mother’s jewelry to know that they were real diamonds.

She looked at Mikhail. “I’ll probably need the entire Chicago PD guarding me when I wear this. You give such generous gifts, Mikhail. Thank you.”

He chuckled and drew her against his hard chest. “Why would you need the police department when you have me?”

Mira rubbed her cheek against his chest, feeling as content as a cat sunning itself. “You’re right. I have you, always and forever.”

She hadn’t realized when those last three words slipped out, but as soon as they did, she could have bitten her tongue.

But then, a part of her was glad she’d said those words; they needed to be said and he needed to hear them. Somehow, some way, when she hadn’t been looking, Mira had fallen head over heels in love with Mikhail Nikolai. She wasn’t even sure when it had happened.

Was it when he’d married her for real despite her protestations that she wanted a fake marriage? Was it when he’d risked his life to save Sarah just because she asked? Was it when he’d chartered an entire boutique of new clothes for her and acted like it was nothing? Or perhaps it was when he’d made love to her in this very room and treated her like she was the only woman on earth.

And what about the pregnancy? He’d been so impossibly happy and excited, as though she had given him the best gift on earth. And since then, he had been waiting on her hand and foot even when she begged him not to, uncaring of his macho image.

She stared up at him with a melting gaze. She had to tell him how she felt, she decided. If he didn’t feel the same way, it didn’t matter. She had to tell him how she felt.

“Mikhail, I—” she started.

But he pressed a hand to her lips, cutting off her words.

She stared at him out of wide, bewildered eyes. Why did it feel as if he knew exactly what she wanted to say and yet he had stopped her?

“I need to speak to you,” she muttered around his finger.

Mikhail released her at once, but other than that there was no indication that he’d heard her. His grin was still as boyishly handsome as ever as he told her, “I need to meet with Williams right away. You put away your new dress and get some rest.”

Then he vanished from her room with a great deal of haste.

Was he avoiding hearing her say that she loved him? It sure felt that way.

She was still bemused minutes later when she walked downstairs. She pushed open the door of Mikhail’s office, but he wasn’t there. Williams, however, was looking through some papers, chuckling with absolute delight.

It was the first time she’d heard the solemn, quiet man laugh out loud, and she was intrigued. Since he hadn’t noticed her, she walked quietly up beside him. It was the same pictures of yachts, private jets, and mansions she’d seen one time in this office.

“What are those, and why are you chuckling?” she asked.

Williams looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “My boy’s done it. Mikhail’s done it.”

Mira started to smile in spite of herself. “Done it? Done what?”

“He told me he’s about to become a father,” Williams crowed.

She failed to see the connection between Mikhail’s impending fatherhood and the legal-looking documents, but she stayed quiet.

She looked up at Williams, her face shining with joy. “So I take it he is happy, really? I wasn’t imagining it.”

“Of course, m’dear. He swore off all marriages after Alena’s betrayal. Well, until you came along and forced his hand. And look, it’s turned out so perfectly.”

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